Rich pickings as visitors go beyond garden gate at Eye Open Gardens

Garden lovers did not miss the chance to take inspiration from some of the best in Eye at its open gardens weekend.

A total of 24 homes invited visitors to admire their hard work as the town hosted its June 8 and 9 event.

The event featured gardens large and small, with old favourites and new entries taking part – to the delight of organiser Christine Bird.

“Our open gardens have grown over the years and it was noticeable how many people came from far and wide,” she said. “That was really lovely.”

Alongside the gardens, the Church of St Peter and St Paul held a flower arrangement competition, with a double-decker bus laid on to help people get around the town.

“Everywhere you went during the weekend, there was a real buzz to proceedings,” said Mrs Bird.

“The whole thing was absolutely wonderful. There were lots of lovely people enjoying themselves and the vintage bus was a real hit.”

To top it all off, the event generated more than £4,000 in the process, with the money set to go to the church’s development appeal, which helps with the upkeep of the Grade I-listed building.

“I would like to thank everyone for their contributions,” added Mrs Bird. “Anyone making £2,000 a day has to be very pleased.

“The whole event is down to a lot of hard work.There is a team of people and they really do put their all into it.”

Eye Open Gardens was started in 1979 by Lady Flaxman, who lived in Church Street and had the idea of opening some gardens in the town.

It will return next year on June 7 and 8.